Armed guard demographics and statistics in the US
Armed guard demographics research summary. Zippia estimates armed guard demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our armed guard estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about armed guards after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 239,822 armed guards currently employed in the United States.
- 15.5% of all armed guards are women, while 84.5% are men.
- The average armed guard age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of armed guards is White (54.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (21.2%), Black or African American (11.7%) and Asian (6.1%).
- Armed guards are most in-demand in Los Angeles, CA.
- The non profits industry is the highest-paying for armed guards.
- Anchorage, AK pays an annual average wage of $66,871, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women armed guards earned 99% of what men earned.
- 6% of all armed guards are LGBT.
- New York is the best state for armed guards to live.
- Armed guards are 79% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Armed guard demographics by:
Armed guard gender statistics
15.5% of armed guards are women and 84.5% of armed guards are men.
- Male, 84.5%
- Female, 15.5%
Armed guard gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 84.5% |
| Female | 15.5% |
Armed guard gender pay gap
Women earn 99¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$44,667
Female income
$44,053
Armed guard gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in armed guard positions over time. Currently, 15.5% of armed guards are female.
Armed guard gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 86.27% | 13.73% |
| 2011 | 85.44% | 14.56% |
| 2012 | 86.25% | 13.75% |
| 2013 | 86.32% | 13.68% |
| 2014 | 85.77% | 14.23% |
| 2015 | 86.24% | 13.76% |
| 2016 | 85.99% | 14.01% |
| 2017 | 85.16% | 14.84% |
| 2018 | 85.73% | 14.27% |
| 2019 | 85.40% | 14.60% |
| 2020 | 83.95% | 16.05% |
| 2021 | 84.54% | 15.46% |
Armed guard related jobs gender ratio
We compared armed guards with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, rescue boat operator and bodyguard have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Playground Monitor | 18% | 82% |
| School Crossing Guard | 21% | 79% |
| Crossing Guard | 23% | 77% |
| Armed Guard | 85% | 15% |
| Bouncer | 94% | 6% |
| Bodyguard | 96% | 4% |
| Rescue Boat Operator | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Armed guard demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among armed guards is White, which makes up 54.1% of all armed guards. Comparatively, 21.2% of armed guards are Hispanic or Latino and 11.7% of armed guards are Black or African American.
- White, 54.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 21.2%
- Black or African American, 11.7%
- Asian, 6.1%
- Unknown, 5.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
Armed guard race
| Armed guard race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 54.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21.2% |
| Black or African American | 11.7% |
| Asian | 6.1% |
| Unknown | 5.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.6% |
Armed guard race and ethnicity over time
See how armed guard racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Armed guard race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 63.62% | 12.06% | 4.87% | 16.10% |
| 2011 | 61.56% | 12.00% | 4.84% | 17.68% |
| 2012 | 61.23% | 12.28% | 4.76% | 17.79% |
| 2013 | 61.56% | 11.84% | 5.03% | 17.88% |
| 2014 | 60.24% | 12.68% | 4.73% | 18.21% |
| 2015 | 59.88% | 12.11% | 5.21% | 18.66% |
| 2016 | 59.51% | 11.88% | 5.00% | 19.54% |
| 2017 | 59.40% | 12.80% | 4.66% | 19.34% |
| 2018 | 59.65% | 11.68% | 4.87% | 19.35% |
| 2019 | 58.64% | 12.39% | 5.69% | 19.22% |
| 2020 | 53.98% | 12.96% | 5.74% | 20.60% |
| 2021 | 54.09% | 11.73% | 6.07% | 21.23% |
Armed guard wage gap by race
According to our data, white armed guards have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown armed guards have the lowest average salary at $43,911.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $43,911 |
| White | $45,073 |
| Black or African American | $44,808 |
| Asian | $45,033 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $44,519 |
Average armed guard age
See how the average age of armed guards varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Armed guard age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 45 | 41 |
| Unknown | 37.5 | 39 |
| Asian | 45 | 44 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 36 | 36.5 |
| White | 45 | 47 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 38.5 | 37 |
Armed guard age breakdown
The average age of armed guards is 40+ years years old, representing 56% of the armed guard population.
Armed guard age breakdown
| Armed Guard Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 56% |
| 30-40 years | 21% |
| 20-30 years | 22% |
Armed guard educational attainment
The most common degree for armed guards is high school diploma, with 36% of armed guards earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 25% and associate degree degree at 21%.
- High School Diploma, 36%
- Associate, 25%
- Bachelor's, 21%
- Diploma, 10%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Armed guards by degree level
| Armed guard degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 36% |
| Associate | 25% |
| Bachelor's | 21% |
| Diploma | 10% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Armed guard jobs you might like
Armed guard wage gap by degree level
According to the data, armed guards with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $51,861 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, armed guards earn a median annual income of $47,104 compared to $43,769 for armed guards with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $51,861 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $41,878 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $47,104 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $43,769 |
Armed guard employment statistics
Most armed guards work for a private in the utilities industry.
Company size where armed guards work
Below, you can see the size of companies where armed guards work.
Armed guard jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 14% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 24% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 13% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 27% |
| > 10,000 employees | 16% |
Armed guard jobs by company type
Employees with the armed guard job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most armed guards prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Armed guard jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 13% |
| Private | 79% |
| Government | 7% |
Armed guard jobs by industry
The most common industries for armed guards are utilities, professional and technology.
Armed guard industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Utilities | 19% |
| Professional | 17% |
| Technology | 12% |
| Manufacturing | 8% |
| Government | 7% |
| Finance | 6% |
| Fortune 500 | 5% |
| Media | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Armed guard turnover and employment statistics
Armed guard unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for armed guards between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Armed guard unemployment rate by year
| Year | Armed guard unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 12.24% |
| 2011 | 11.62% |
| 2012 | 10.40% |
| 2013 | 9.08% |
| 2014 | 8.18% |
| 2015 | 7.21% |
| 2016 | 6.47% |
| 2017 | 5.77% |
| 2018 | 5.47% |
| 2019 | 4.75% |
| 2020 | 6.85% |
| 2021 | 7.46% |
Average armed guard tenure
The average armed guard stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 3,348 armed guards resumes in Zippia's database.
Armed guard tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 26% |
| 1-2 years | 35% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Armed guard LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of armed guards that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing Guard | 3.84% | 16,018 |
| Armed Guard | 6.29% | - |
| Victims Advocate Clerk/Specialist | 7.17% | 74,103 |
| Swim Lesson Instructor | 7.20% | 24,835 |
| Private Investigator | 8.27% | 6,675 |
| Airport Screener | 15.51% | 2,474 |
Similar armed guard jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing Guard | 3.84% | 16,018 |
| Victims Advocate Clerk/Specialist | 7.17% | 74,103 |
| Swim Lesson Instructor | 7.20% | 24,835 |
| Private Investigator | 8.27% | 6,675 |
| Airport Screener | 15.51% | 2,474 |
Foreign languages spoken by armed guards
The most common foreign language among armed guards is Spanish at 69.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Japanese at 4.8% and French is the third-most popular at 4.8%.
- Spanish, 69.0%
- Japanese, 4.8%
- French, 4.8%
- Russian, 2.4%
- Arabic, 2.4%
- Other, 16.6%
Armed guard languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 69.0% |
| Japanese | 4.8% |
| French | 4.8% |
| Russian | 2.4% |
| Arabic | 2.4% |
| Other | 16.6% |
